• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • ALBUM
  • LISTEN
  • CONCERTS
  • MEDIA
  • VIP LIST
  • CONTACT
Type and hit ENTER
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • ALBUM
  • LISTEN
  • CONCERTS
  • MEDIA
  • VIP LIST
  • CONTACT
Listen to different genres
  • AT LAST- ALBUM
  • BAROQUE & CLASSICAL
  • JAZZ AND POP
  • FILM, TV & ADS
  • THEATRE

Heather Cairncross

Jazz Singer

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • NEWS
  • ALBUM
  • LISTEN
  • CONCERTS
  • MEDIA
  • VIP LIST
  • CONTACT

A Gluck Opera Revisited With Naked Memories Of A Mud Facepack And Raspberry Syrup

Photograph of choreographer Pina Bausch by Thomas Lohnes/AFP/Getty ImagesThis week I start rehearsals for a Glück Opera at Sadler’s Wells Theatre which has brought back naked memories of being covered with a mud facepack and my head being dipped in raspberry syrup. It’s for the German based, Pina Bausch Dance Company and apart from singing I have no idea what will be involved. Glück’s Iphigenie en Tauride was actually my first professional engagement as a singer.

In my final year of Guildhall – many moons ago – I went on a four week, summer school at Dartington in Devon. The course was grandly entitled Music, The Mask and Mime – or something equally enticing. The composer in residence was Harrison Birtwistle – a famously dour, Lancastrian and together with another composer John Woolrich, my bemused colleagues and I set out on four weeks of improvisation, confusion and discovery. Three things from this time stick in my mind – the constant rain – a terribly embarrassing incident with an alarm clock during a live radio broadcast, which I was convinced would end my career before it had even started – and
an unexpected audition with the notorious, Australian opera director, David Freeman.

When the course finished and I returned home to my digs in London, I got a call offering me a part as one of five chorus members in Opera Factory Zürich’s revival of Glück’s Iphigenia, which would rehearse in Switzerland and go on to perform at the Adelaide Festival in Australia. Imaging my delight – especially after I thought I’d committed such a heinous alarm clock crime that I would never work again as a musician. (Maybe I’ll write about that incident in another blog post, but, in the manner of Ronnie Corbett – I digress). I was in my final year at College and at first they said i couldn’t have the four weeks off – fortunately my wonderful singing teacher, Laura Sarti convinced them that this experience was too good a chance to miss and the ‘powers that be’ finally relented.

Opera Factory Zürich's production of Iphigenie (censored!)The Opera was a very dark piece about human sacrifice and our costume was mostly made up of a mudpack and a rough-hewn, rag skirt – for both boys and girls. My Dad later said that the set resembled a large,curved, dog turd – and I know what he meant. We spent a lot of time trying to look very primitive, hiding in our burrows and grooming each other before our big chorus number.  (I have censored this picture but you get the idea!) We then crept off, removed our skirt, dipped our heads in a bucket of raspberry syrup and jumped onto stage on all fours looking like the dogs of war. We sang whilst shaking our heads and getting red splatter all over the front row. After that we had a quick wash and re-applied the mud, which was hastily dried by stage management armed with hairdryers. Complete with skirts again, we slowly appeared in our burrows as if nothing had happened. When you’re young and you’ve had 6 weeks of intensive rehearsal you really don’t think anything of such adventures. Also the shows were in Australia so I didn’t think anybody I knew would see me.

Two years later the show was revived at the QEH on London’s South Bank.

My Dad whispered to my little sister on opening night “I can recognise Heather’s bare bum anywhere”. The rather unfortunate thing about the final scene was after a big onstage fight your mud rather wore off on any parts of your body that stuck out. They then brought up the lights and we had to line up and do a bow. The QEH is quite an intimate venue and we were very close to the front row of the audience.

A few years ago I was given some complimentary tickets to see a BBC Singers Concert in a large Church in Hove as part of the Brighton Festival. There was to be a premiere of a new piece written by John Woolrich (remember him, from the original Dartington Summer School course?). He walked down the aisle of the church towards the comp seats and I said “Hello John, you probably won’t remember me.”

“Heather Cairncross” he bellowed loudly, rather upsetting the fine ladies of Hove, “I remember your breasts!”

It turned out he’d been sitting in the front row of the QEH right in front of  my bow. I’d obviously made an impression…..

So, I was very glad to hear we would be wearing all black for the Pina Bausch ballet and our clothes should come to our neck and cover all of our skin except our faces.

To be continued…….

If you enjoyed this blog and would like to know when I write a new article, don’t forget to add your email address to one of the boxes on the top right hand of this page. Then click on the link in the email you get from Feedburner to confirm your interest. Your email address is completely confidential.

Email
2 Comments

Related News

Other posts that you should not miss.

Britten In China – Shanghai

I have just returned from China where I was lucky enough to join London Voices for some concerts …

Read More
Bling worn by the Maida Vale Singers at the Hooray for Hollywood BBC Proms 2011
Popular Articles

HC004 | John Wilson Orchestra say ‘Hooray For Hollywood’ at The Proms 2011

Today I was lucky enough to join the John Wilson Orchestra to say Hooray for Hollywood at the …

Read More

From Brighton To Bach To Berio – The Long Journey Through The British Winter Continues

My apologies for the long time it has taken me to continue my journal about the the long …

Read More
← PREVIOUS POST
Running In Snow, Singing En Pointe And Other Ballet Disasters
NEXT POST →
The Third Interview About Singing On Susan Boyle's CD, The Gift | With Ewing Stevens

2 Comments

on A Gluck Opera Revisited With Naked Memories Of A Mud Facepack And Raspberry Syrup.
  1. Geof Dolton
    22/11/2015 @ 21:30
    -
    Reply

    Trying to get a list all my roles together, I came upon your blog this evening. I remember well the raspberry syrup, mixed with stage blood, flying everywhere, and being ‘bitten’ by you and the other three hounds from hell whilst tied to a stake, trying to sing a very lyrical aria…. Happy days! Hope all is good with you ( and your magnificent breasts!). GD

    • Heather
      23/11/2015 @ 09:22
      -
      Reply

      How nice to hear from you Geoffrey – twas a VERY long time ago indeed. Lots of love to you! Hx

Leave a Comment

Your feedback is valuable for us. Your email will not be published.
Cancel Reply

Please wait...
Submit Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Heather Cairncross Singer

2 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Hoorah!Carnegie Hall has announced its 2022–23 concert season, including Rhiannon Giddens, who will lead four concerts as a Perspectives artist for the season; past Perspectives artists Kronos Quartet; and an all–Steve Reich program performed by Colin Currie Group and Synergy Vocals: www.nonesuch.com/journal/carnegie-hall-2022-23-season-rhiannon-giddens-kronos-quartet-steve-reich…

… See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

2 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

"Ca-li-fo-nia here I/we come"!

… See MoreSee Less

Cal Performances sets 2022-23 season of stars and world premieres in Berkeley

www.mercurynews.com

Cal Performances’ 2022-23 season features a Steve Reich celebration; Yo-Yo Ma “super trio”; Mark Morris Dance; William Kentridge opera, much more.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

9 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Live gigs – abroad – I KNOW!!!

… See MoreSee Less

Happy 85th Birthday, Steve Reich! — Colin Currie

www.colincurrie.com

This Sunday, October 3rd, marks an extraordinary anniversary for one of music’s greatest pioneers – the 85th birthday of Steve Reich. Of the many causes for celebration on this day, I would perhaps …

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

9 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Coming back to Cardiff!CCG is delighted to announce its appearance at this year’s Festival of Voice – Gŵyl y Llais in Cardiff on November 4th. This will also mark the group’s debut at the Wales Millennium Centre – Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru. Mark your diaries now!! We haven’t performed Steve Reich ‘Drumming’ since 2019 and are itching to share this music again with you!Colin Currie GroupSynergy Vocals4/11/2021 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 www.wmc.org.uk/en/festival-of-voice/festival-of-voice-passes

… See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer

10 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Hove people – guesting with Paul Richards Guitar this Sunday!

… See MoreSee Less

This content isn’t available at the moment

When this happens, it’s usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it’s been deleted.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Heather Cairncross Singer
is feeling excited.

11 months ago

Heather Cairncross Singer

Hampshire folks – THIS COMING TUESDAY @ 18:00. Click on the link and choose 10th August for details and booking. It’s a scorching trio! www.winchfieldfestival.org/festival-lineup.html Just checking though my charts and searching for David Newton gold (I give him the red pen on a gig and he occasionally adds his harmonic wisdom – although in truth he plays with the hell he likes on the day and I’m VERY happy with that). We’d be so happy to see you there.(photo by Daniel Joy)

… See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Archive
June 2022
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
« Jan    
Listen Genres
  • AT LAST- ALBUM
  • BAROQUE & CLASSICAL
  • JAZZ AND POP
  • FILM, TV & ADS
  • THEATRE
  • BAROQUE
  • CONTEMPORARY
  • JAZZ
  • PROJECTS
  • SESSIONS
  • THEATRE
  • TERMS

Join Heather's VIP List

Get an exclusive unreleased track to download when you confirm.

Subscribe and stay updated with the latest news from Heather.
We will never give your details to anybody else!



A Gluck Opera Revisited With Naked Memories Of A Mud Facepack And Raspberry Syrup - Heather Cairncross UK Jazz Singer